20 November, 2011

Vision: The Indispensable Quality of Leadership

Today I wish to share with you something on vision, which I have adapted from ‘Developing the Leader within you’ by John C. Maxwell. This book contains lot of insightful tips to sharpen our leadership. If you are a leader or wish to be a leader get it and read it. Now let me come to the point of today’s subject – Vision.

All effective leaders have a vision of what they must accomplish. That vision becomes the energy behind every effort and the force that pushes through all the problems. With vision, a leader is on a mission. His or her contagious spirit is felt among the crowd until others begin to rise alongside.

One of the most common questions from people in leadership positions is, “How do I get a vision for my organisation?” That is a crucial question, because until it is answered, a person will be a leader in name only.

Although I cannot give you a vision, I can share the process for finding ‘one’ that I have learned from John C. Maxwell.

LOOK WITHIN YOU – WHAT DO YOU FEEL?

You can’t borrow somebody else’s vision. It must come from inside of you. The thing that brings it out is passion.

LOOK BEHIND YOU – WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED?

Every leader’s vision is based on his or her own personal experience. What does your past tell you about your future?

LOOK AROUND YOU – WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OTHERS?

As a leader, you must always take into account other people. If others aren’t with you, you aren’t leading.

LOOK AHEAD OF YOU – WHAT IS THE BIG PICTURE?

Leaders don’t get bogged down in minutia. They see everything from the vantagepoint of the mountain top. That’s why their goals are called vision.

LOOK ABOVE YOU – WHAT DOES GOD EXPECT OF YOU?

No vision is worthy of your life unless it fulfils your destiny, the purpose for which you were designed. Your vision must contribute to your destiny.

LOOK BESIDE YOU – WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU?

Your vision must be bigger than you. The grater it is, the more resource it will require. The best leaders bring all of the resources in their world into play to accomplish something great.